Gambling in the USA
$9 Million Gift Galvanizes Tribal Gaming and Law Programs at UNLV
Historic agreement with San Manuel Band of Mission Indians will support teaching, education, and training opportunities for students, professionals, community members, and Native American tribes.
UNLV announced a $9 million gift from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians that will position the university as the nation’s leading source for education and innovation related to tribal gaming operations and law.
This gift — the largest out-of-state philanthropic gift that the California-based San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has bestowed on an educational or healthcare institution — will support course development and an endowed chair at the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality. It will also provide curricular, faculty, and program support at the William S. Boyd School of Law. The historic agreement will for the first time infuse the unique elements of tribal gaming into the world’s leading hospitality and gaming program, and add a tribal gaming emphasis to the nation’s only master’s degree program in gaming law.
“In the tribe’s history, tribal government gaming is the only tool that has worked to meet our economic development objectives,” said San Manuel Tribal Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena. “Yet, the full potential of tribal gaming cannot be achieved if we do not also place emphasis on developing Native people to manage our economic developments, including gaming. Therefore, we are making this investment in the partnership with UNLV to educate and prepare our children, grandchildren and future generations to help chart our path to a sustainable future.”
A $6 million portion of the gift will establish the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Endowed Chair in Tribal Gaming at the UNLV College of Hospitality. It will also enhance the college’s curriculum by incorporating tribal gaming into existing gaming courses, creating new on-campus and online degree-track courses in tribal gaming, and developing a set of online certificate courses for community members and Native Americans across the nation who are interested in learning more about careers in tribal gaming operations.
“As tribal gaming continues to expand throughout the nation, it is critical for our college to be able to educate both current and future professionals on the operational nuances of tribal gaming,” said Stowe Shoemaker, dean of the UNLV Harrah College of Hospitality. “This gift not only helps us develop greater expertise in tribal gaming operations, it allows us to make this unique educational opportunity accessible to everyone.”
The program, which will emphasize partnerships with other schools and tribes nationwide, will also host an annual, week-long executive education seminar for tribal gaming professionals. The college plans to have faculty in place this fall, with the full tribal gaming program rollout anticipated by Fall 2023.
At the UNLV Boyd School of Law, $3 million of the gift will support a professor-in-residence, a visiting professor, and a program administrator who will create opportunities for interdisciplinary dialogue and research on governance, regulation, and economic development issues.
Funds will also be channeled into a scholarship for a LL.M. student in gaming, with preference given to tribal citizens and indigenous student applicants. The Law School will also develop online courses on tribal governance and gaming regulation, expand its Tribal Law Practicum for students, and conduct an annual workshop or symposium on emerging topics and issues of interest to Native American gaming.
“The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is one of the leaders in tribal gaming in the country, and has made a sustained commitment to philanthropy and research,” said Daniel W. Hamilton, dean of the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law. “We are deeply grateful for their partnership, and look forward to building the nation’s leader in developing best practices for tribal gaming law, policy and governance. This is a wonderful fit for UNLV Boyd where we offer more gaming law classes than any other law school and the nation’s only master’s in gaming law and regulation. This extraordinary gift will enable UNLV Boyd to take on a leading role nationally in an area of the law that is rapidly evolving.”
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
PENN Entertainment announced that its stand-alone Hollywood Casino app has launched in New Jersey. The new Hollywood Casino platform is available on Android, iOS and desktop and can also be accessed via the ESPN BET app. Customers can login to Hollywood Casino using their ESPN BET credentials, allowing for a seamless experience across PENN’s online betting and casino platforms. Ranked by Eilers & Krejcik as the #2 overall iCasino product in the US, Hollywood Casino offers a variety of online slots, table games and live dealer content, including original titles from PENN Game Studios, the company’s in-house casino game development studio. Hollywood Casino also includes bespoke live dealer tables and exclusive games such as the recently launched Devils Blackjack, an original title leveraging PENN’s partnership with the New Jersey Devils.
Quixant has announced its attendance at and sponsorship of this year’s Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention (IGA), to be held between March 31 and April 3, 2025 at the San Diego Convention Centre. Described as the largest gathering of tribal leaders and casino executives in North America, IGA 2025 is a key date in the gaming event calendar. Quixant will support the event with sponsorship at the prestigious annual golf tournament, the Chairman’s Golf Classic, which raises funds for the Native Forward Scholarship Fund to improve tribal education throughout North America. The team look forward to engaging with attendees, to explore their opportunities ahead and understand how Quixant can support and enable their success. Quixant’s product range offers game-changing hardware and software solutions that expedite speed to market. Its specialist gaming hardware platforms, IQ, IQON and QMAX can be tailored to different product needs, budgets and markets.
Partnerships
Soft2Bet has announced its plans to launch in the US headlined by the debut of its award-winning Motivational Engineering Gaming Application (MEGA) product, made possible through a market access agreement with Caesars Entertainment. The launch will see Soft2Bet unveil a new iGaming brand in New Jersey, following necessary regulatory approvals, and with a targeted launch in the Summer of 2025. Soft2Bet’s award-winning MEGA will soon be available to operators in the US. The MEGA product, which Soft2Bet unveiled in 2023, has quickly redefined and transformed gamification with increased engagement, customised player experience and a proven player retention model. Operators around the world using Soft2Bet’s MEGA gamification technology platform have seen positive impact with high engagement and retention.
Aeropay, a leading financial technology company specialising in pay by bank, has announced its membership in the Coalition for Fantasy Sports (CFS), marking the first time a vendor has joined the organisation. This strategic partnership underscores the Coalition’s expanding influence and reinforces its position as the foremost authority on daily fantasy sports. The Coalition for Fantasy Sports, comprising industry leaders such as PrizePicks, Underdog Fantasy, Betr, Dabble and the recently added Splash Sports, continues to advocate for innovation, responsible play and consumer protection within the fantasy sports industry. By welcoming Aeropay, CFS broadens its scope to include key service providers, enhancing its ability to address the multifaceted needs of the industry.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – March 17-23 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Bruce Smith Enterprise
Bruce Smith Enterprise and The Cordish Companies Break Ground on New Live! Casino & Hotel in Petersburg, Virginia
Bruce Smith Enterprise and The Cordish Companies celebrated the groundbreaking of the new LIVE! CASINO & HOTEL VIRGINIA in Petersburg. The milestone officially commences construction on a transformative project that will generate billions of dollars in economic benefits and spinoff development, create thousands of new jobs, and set a new standard for gaming, hotels, and entertainment in the Commonwealth. Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is part of a larger $1.4 billion master plan by the partnership, scheduled to be developed in phases, that will bring a world-class mixed-use resort destination to Petersburg.
Executives from Bruce Smith Enterprise, The Cordish Companies, and Cordish Gaming were joined by Petersburg City Mayor Sam Parham and members of Petersburg City Council, Virginia State Senator Lashrecse Aird, Virginia State Delegate Kim Taylor, and many other business and community leaders at the project site in Petersburg. The development site, ideally located on Brasfield Parkway at the intersection of Wagner Road and Interstate I-95 just 20 miles south of Richmond, will provide easy access on and off the East Coast’s major north-south interstate.
“It has been a source of immense satisfaction and pride to partner in this incredible development. For far too long people have simply driven by the City of Petersburg, but today marks the beginning of a new era in which Petersburg will become a prime destination. This pivotal project will ignite tourism, create jobs, and ultimately deliver on the promise of greater opportunity and upward mobility for local families. As a champion of Petersburg and its residents, I am happily confident that this historic development will uplift, empower, and enrich this community for years to come,” said Bruce Smith, founder of Bruce Smith Enterprise.
Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is slated to open in 2027. A temporary gaming facility will open by the end of 2025 to immediately begin creating an estimated 500 new jobs, vendor opportunities and economic benefits for the City. In its first 10 years, the project is expected to generate $2.8 billion in economic stimulus to the region; $504 million in tax revenues including $240 million to the City of Petersburg; $802 million in economic benefits during construction; $201 million in annual economic benefits each year after opening; and 7500 new jobs including 6100 during construction and 1400 new permanent jobs.
“Today marks a monumental day for The Cordish Companies as we expand our Live! brand into the Central Virginia region with the development of Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia. Our company is a national leader in successfully developing and managing large-scale urban revitalization projects across the country. Live! Casino & Hotel will be a transformative development that will bring a world-class gaming and entertainment experience to millions of visitors, create significant new jobs, and generate millions of dollars in economic benefits for the community that will provide a beneficial impact for generations. We look forward to making an immediate impact on the region with the construction of a temporary gaming facility that will be operational before the end of 2025, so that we can begin creating jobs, vendor opportunities and economic benefits for the City,” said Zed Smith, Chief Operating Officer for The Cordish Companies.
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Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
Fennica Gaming has announced that it has been granted a gaming supplier license in Ontario, Canada. This milestone marks a significant step in the company’s expansion strategy, allowing it to offer its cutting-edge gaming experiences to gaming operators in one of North America’s most dynamic regulated markets. The supplier license, granted by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), enables Fennica Gaming to introduce its portfolio of entertaining and high-quality games to gaming operators across the province. This registration empowers Ontarian operators, whether online or land-based, to access the omnichannel offerings developed in the Nordics.
PrizePicks announced it has received Internet Compliance Assessment Programme (iCAP) accreditation from the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). PrizePicks is the first and only fantasy sports operator to receive the recognition. iCAP certification is granted to operators that meet the NCPG’s high standards for responsible gaming and consumer protection practices. Developed by the NCPG, iCAP is the leading online responsible gaming assessment Programme in the US. The rigorous certification process involves an independent, comprehensive review of an operator’s responsible gaming policies and practices, spanning Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, staff training programmes, work culture, consumer protection measures, RG tool offerings, customer service standards and regulatory compliance.
The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) at Northeastern University School of Law supports Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) as they reintroduced the SAFE Bet Act, which addresses the risks associated with legalised gambling. As of 2025, 39 states and the District of Columbia have legalised sports betting, but the necessary safeguards are not in place to address the public health risks that legalising sports betting creates. The SAFE Bet Act, first introduced in September 2024, addresses those public health concerns. The SAFE Bet Act establishes federal standards while preserving the opportunity for anyone who wishes to participate in legal sports betting. These standards will address advertising, affordability and artificial intelligence issues.
Partnerships
The NCAA and EPIC Global Solutions announced an extension of their gambling harm education programme collaboration. This extended collaboration reinforces the NCAA’s long-standing commitment to protecting student-athlete well-being and the integrity of college athletics. Educating student-athletes on the dangers of sports betting continues to be a key priority for the Association. EPIC’s sessions have been a crucial piece of this education since January 2022. The NCAA and EPIC Global Solutions have partnered to educate over 80,000 student-athletes through in-person, experiential sessions at more than 270 campuses nationwide across all three divisions, making it the largest programme of its kind globally.
SCCG Management has announced a strategic partnership with Boosted Bets. This collaboration will focus on business development, capital-raising support, and global distribution, connecting Boosted Bets with strategic partners across SCCG’s ecosystem, including sportsbook platforms, operators, data providers, CRM and gamification partners. Boosted Bets introduces a new way for sports bettors to prove their skills through a contest-based wagering model. Players enter a paid challenge, receiving a simulated betting account with a larger bankroll—giving them the ability to place bets as if they were high-stakes bettors.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – March 10-16 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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